10 alternative things to do on Christmas Day

Christmas Day doesn’t only have to be about TV, eating and drinking. It may be that you are on your own, or looking to try something new. So why not make this the year you do something different with the 25th December and make it one to remember. 

Here are our favourite ideas for an alternative Christmas Day for 2024 - and you could still be back on your sofa in time for a BBC evening special, with a sherry and a box of Quality Street.

1. Take a dip in the sea

Are you brave enough to get wet this year? On Christmas Day up and down the country, people in seaside towns and villages don Santa hats, fancy dress costumes and, more sensibly, wetsuits, and race into the sea – all to raise money for charity.

The Outdoor Swimming Society has compiled a list of events taking place and provides safety information for new swimmers.

2. Lend a helping hand

Charities need volunteers all year round, but especially at Christmas, so why not offer to lend a hand?

Perhaps by helping Crisis at Christmas serve lunch on the 25th to homeless people in Birmingham, Edinburgh, London, Newcastle and Oxford.

Or, spend a few hours with an older person who otherwise would be alone on Christmas Day. You could sign up to Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service, and chat to someone from the comfort of your home, to theirs. The service runs 365 days a year. 

There are grass roots events happening across the country, such as Christmas meal deliveries that need help too. Find out what events are already happening or register your own at Community Christmas.

Other volunteering opportunities are available at the Royal Voluntary Service.

3. Find a four-legged friend

If on Christmas Day you fancy heading outdoors for a bit of fresh air, but don't want to go alone, why not offer to walk a friend or neighbour’s dog?

Routine can go out the window at Christmas time, so dog owners may be happy to hand over the lead.

Or explore the opportunities on Borrow My Doggy to find the perfect walking buddy for you. And here are 10 of our best festive walks to enjoy in your time together. 

4. Get on your bike

Whether Father Christmas has been generous and delivered a new shiny bicycle to you on Christmas morning, or you've got one gathering dust in your shed, get on your bike on the 25th.

It is the perfect day to take to two wheels as the roads are so much quieter than normal. and its a great way of working up a festive appetite.

5. Enjoy outdoor tourist attractions

World Heritage Sites such as the stone circle at Avebury and Lulworth Cove on Dorset’s Jurassic coast are often busy all year round, but not on Christmas Day.

Spend time exploring an area and make the most of the quiet - it may be one of the few times you can take photos of these spectacular sights without being photo-bombed by other visitors.

6. Attend a Christmas concert

If you usually spend most of Christmas Day in the kitchen, a couple of hours’ reprieve at a Christmas concert will boost festive spirits, especially if you love a singalong.

Check out local newspapers to see if any local churches are holding carol services or singalongs on the 25th, or join one of the many events happening across the country.

If you can’t get out or the times don’t quite suit, there are Christmas Day live streams from Canterbury Cathedral.

7. Dish up Christmas dinner to a dog or two

There are thousands of abandoned dogs and cats in animal rescue centres around the country, cared for 365 days of the year by dedicated staff and volunteers. Join a team this Christmas Day and help to serve up doggy (and cat) dinners to some furry friends who are waiting to find their forever homes.

Contact your local animal shelters to find out whether there is anything you can help them with. Although, be careful as you may even be tempted to bring a dog or cat home for 2025. 

8. Do some gardening

Why not work up an appetite in your garden? Garlic is best planted in late autumn or early winter, so if you haven’t already put some cloves in the ground. Rhubarb crowns can also be planted in well-prepared soil, as can strawberry plants.

If you’re more of a flower lover, then pop some tulip bulbs in pots – they can be planted right up until Christmas and still flower well in the spring. Read our list of December garden jobs for inspiration for your green fingered Christmas Day. 

9. Go on a walking tour

Cities and towns can be eerily quiet on Christmas morning, so it’s a perfect time to wander around the city’s streets.

One option is to pick up a guide book and go on a walking tour – books are available for London, St Andrews, Oxford and many others, so find a nearby location and pick out a book that interests you, whether that’s general history, literary history, canal routes or art and architecture walks.

EBook versions can often be picked up for just a few pounds.

10. Enjoy your holiday

For a true alternative, why not book a Christmas holiday this year?

You could celebrate while sat on a beach in St Barts, enjoying a shrimp BBQ on the beach in Sydney or relaxing on a lounger in Tenerife. There are plenty of destinations to enjoy the 25th December with some warmth in your bones.

Or, you could go fully festive and head to Lapland to chase the Northern Lights and enjoy a white Christmas in Sweden, Norway or Finland in the Arctic Circle.